Energy

Sri Lanka’s energy sector has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades, as growth in the economy and population have eroded the country’s capacity to meet its energy needs via hydropower, strained the national grid and pushed thermal generation to dominate the industry. Although it benefits from an abundant supply of renewable energy, electricity shortages and rising fuel imports have become serious concerns, with the problem expected to intensify as the government advances its sizeable infrastructure development agenda. At the same time, financing shortfalls and rising electricity demand have presented new opportunities for private sector investors, with the government’s Vision 2025 – an economic development plan released in 2017 – emphasising public-private partnerships as a preferred finance mechanism for new projects, including power plants. This chapter contains an interview with Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy.